¶The enquirie and verdite of the quest pan­neld of the death of Ri­chard Hune wich was founde hanged in Lolars tower.

To the Reader.

TO see (moost deare Reader) how suttellie the trueth is euer persequuted might seame grea­te woonder / but that the holie goo­ste hath oft tymes shewed and testifi­ed in the Scripture that hit shuld so be. What kynd of persequucion hath bene vnproued? what can be imagined that hathe not hitherto bene prac­tisede concerning soche thynges? In some places they heede & afterward burne / in some places they bringe straighte wayse to the fyre. When that shift will not serue / or yt they dare not hurte the person liuyng by cause of his riches or power &c. yet wyll they burne him after he died peasablie in his bed / as they dide Wicleffe & Tracie with other / to kepe the symple innocent sowles wich they haue made blynde still to continewe in darknes / sayyng / he was an heretique who so euer kepe his opiniōs shalbe bur­ned lyuyng / and so the burning of that which feal­te no paine is a greate feare to the ignoraunt that seith hit.

Some be cause they be wyse and vtter the hypo­crisye and abhominable lyuing of whorehunters with discrete communicacion / so that no man can gayne saye or accuse them but they say trweth be brought in to presone and heresies fained oute of hande that be sparppled abrode to the people with all the apparence of veritie that can be diuised to persuade them that the parties be not presoned vn­deserued / wich if they wyll not confesse and pro­mes to be openlie abiured to theyre greate shame [Page] theire neckes be broken or elles they be some other wise conueyde / and after hanged vp / and than saide and preached to that they hanged them sealues / as was this Hune / wich to be trewe thou shal easelie perceaue by the enquirie and verdite of the queest here in this litell treatise conteyned. yf they be poore and want frendes and no euident cause founde wherfore they shuld suffre / then die they in presone no man knowith howe / hit is straight waise saide if any man axe of them that they died of one disease or other and no mooe woordes ar made. yf a man knowyng theyre malicyouse hertes get hym fur­ther from daunger in to some other realme / wich haplie is to circumspect to be taken by any commune officer or knowen enemie / straighte waye cause they one or other for money to play Iudas part and to make him sealf greate with the partie / & as thowghe he fauored him singularlie to make moche on hym tyll he see his tyme & than betray him / as they haue euen now played with William Tyndal a man of synguler vertuousnes and of no lesse lernyng and iugement in scripture and of a rare gentillnes of cō dicions as all they can testyfie that knewe him and vsed familiaritie with him. Summa to kepe vp the Kyngdome of fornicatours and aduowtrers that they may liue in all pleasure and ydelnes / seruyng theyre belies onelie and lyuing more viciouslie than euer did the hethen / & for the enstablishement ther­of to thrust downe vertuouse lyuyng and trew preachyng hath no sotteltie bene vnsought for / nor no­ne shalbe I feare me of theyre parties / vntyll they be yet brought lower / I speake of the bad / for the good as they haue in euerie place for the moost part [Page] to litell so can they not haue to moche. Thus seist thou theire practise before this tyme vsed how they haue with all sottelltie persequuted them that of good zeale and loue haue frelie spoken the trueth / and how they haue hyd and clocked that they dyd with the apparence of holines / as thowghe they had done hit to extinct heresies / for so made they the people to beleue. Other frutes haue they hither to not brought forth. So long space violentlie to haue subdued goddes holie woord weere as me semyth to moche and the tyme now counuenient with hast to reforme them sealues and to prepare theire hartes louynglye to receaue the woorde of theire sowles health and wyllynglie to distribute hit to the sym­ple and ignoraunte people / euerye man accordyng to his gift / yet se I not that they be any thing wyl­lyng therunto but rather in mynde to rage moare then they did before.

The light is now broken forth (thankes be to the Lorde) mager theire beardes / and they brou­ght in no small feare of sodaine ruine of theire kin­gdome / yet by cause they se the world hath not ful­ly forsaken theire deceyuable doctrine in all pla­ces / they hope of a chaunge / and haue theire secre­te conspirisies deuised with all sutteltie to bryng that to pas / the good they do they do by compulsion and for feare of losyng theire possessions / hitherto is there no sygne of repentaunce taken in herte for theire abhominacions so long vsed. Styll lyue they as they did before / they ar no les desirouse of promocion / no les delited in bely Ioye / in wealfaring / in gorgiouse rayment / as readie to abhorre chast matrimonye and daylie to commit whordome and aduoutrie [Page] / as lothe to do the busines wich they ar onelie bound to as euer they weere / I meane to preache with synceritie goddes wholie woorde and that for loue and zeale that they haue to se christen lyuing florisshe and not for the fylthie lukres sake. They stand but at a stay tyll they may fynd by one mean is or other awaye to bryng in theyre olde accostomed vices to be counted holines / as they in tymes past haue made the world to beleue. They do but disseamble in vtwarde apperaunce / in hert they be infect wt theyre accostomed traterie / euer readie when occasi­on shalbe geuen to playe theyre partes a thowsand tymes moare tyranniouslie than euer they did. So leaue they theire olde furiouse heyte of mākquelling that neuerthelesse they styll intend yet ones a gayne to raise hit vp. what hertes haue these men? what token of meaknes and sofferaunce is yet espied in them: what signe of retorne from theire vnspekable malice? wich springeth of no nother thyng than of auarice & desire to liue voluptuouslie. Those yt be good note I not but ye euyll nether hate I or wold any man shuld hate the persons of them but the vi­ces / wich I wold gladlie were amended not increased. If we touch them neuer so littell then heare we that we rayle on them / blaspheme them / belie them and speake vncharitablie by them▪ to wich thyng I thus answere / yf they wold indifferentlie serch what is saide & applie hit to the reule of haritie they shuld fynd no thyng spoken but trueth / no thyng so sharpelie touched as is of theyre parte deserued. Leat euerie man wich fyndeth hym sealf anie thing greued descend in to iugment of his awne conscience and axe what hit saith / wich yf they wold often [Page] do they shuld sone fynde all that is spoken to be les than the trueth / seme hit at the fyrst neuer so sharp or rigourose. Nether is euerie sharp woord vncharitable / except S. Iohn baptist were not wel auised when he called the Pharizees & Saducees the ge­neracion of vipers Mat. iij. or oure sauioure Christ oute of charitie vsyng the sealf woordes. Math. xij. And agayne sayyng to them woo be to you Scri­bes pharizees hipocrites. Mat. xxiij. Luce. xi. & in ye viij. of Iohn calleth he them the sonnes of the deuill. Sainct Paule also to one Elimas a socerer was not a ferde to saye. O full of sotteltie and deceytful­nes the chyld of the deuill and the enemy of al right­wisnes thou ceasist not to peruert the straightwai se of the lord. Acto. xiij. Men may not liue as blin­de as betelles / as ignoraunt as asses / as sottell as foxis / as lecherouse as gootes / moare beastlie than beastes / and loke styll that God wyll suffer them ether to be vnspoken of or vnpunnysshed / but ra­ther shuld think that theire offences be (as the tru­eth is) so hanouse that no tong can expresse them no hand endite them no wit cōprehend them & sorow and repent them and continuallie praye to theyre most mercifull father to geue them some sparkell of grace wherbie the may amende them.

Leat falshed giue place to the trueth. Leat viciou­se lyuing be hated / and vertue had in price. Leat rancor be torned in to loue vnfayned. Leat the ler­ned beare with the ignoraunt so far as may be suf­fered / and the ignoraunt be obsequiouse to heare the lerned: ye leat the lerned rather studie one to be cōformable to a nother / and one charitablie and indifferentlie heare a nother / and dispute with pa­ciēce [Page] not with braunlyng and a gree louinglie with oute scholdyng / euery man knowyng that he may erre & excludyng sealff wyll and sinistre iugement and than no doute but all sharp moniciōs shall ceas­se and in theire steade succede praise to the eternall God / in whose power hit onelye lyeth this thyng to performe and a mongest men greate loue and concorde / and also thankes geuyng for his inestimab­le goodnes / to whom be all honoure and praise for euer. Amen.

Of theire dyuers and manyfold facions this be sufficient at this tyme / now her­ken to the enquirie and sentens geuen concernyng the death of the afforsaide Richard Hune.

Reade Reader and iuge.

THe .v. and the .vj. daye of Decēber / in the .vi. yere of ye reygne of oure suffrayne Lord King Henry the .viij. Wylli­am Barnwel / Crowner of London / the daye & ye­re aboue saide / with in the warde of Castilbayner­de of London Assembled in a quest whose names afterward do appere / and hath sworne them treuly to enquere of the death of one Richard hune / which latelie was fownde deed in the lolars towre / with in paules church of London wheruppon all we of ye inqueste to geather went vp in to the saide towre / where we fownd the bodie of ye saide hune hangyng vpon a staple of Iron / in a gyrdel of sylcke / with fayre countinaunce / his heed fayre kemmyd / & his bon­net right syttyng a pon his heed / with his eyne and mouth fayre closed / with oute any staryng / gapyng / or frowning. Also with oute any dreueling or spur­gyng in any place of his bodye. Where vpon by one assent all we agreede / to take downe the bodie of the saide hune / and as sone as we began to heue ye bodie hit was loose / wherbie by good aduisement we per­ceyued that the gyrdel had no knot a boue the scaple / but hit was double cast / and lynckes of an Iron chayne which dyd hang on the same staple were leyde apon ye same gyrdell wherby he did hang. Also ye knot of the gyrdel that went aboute his neck stoode vnder his lefte eare / wich caused his heed to leyne toward his right shoulder. Natwithstandyng there came ou­te of his nose turles .ij. small streames of blode to the quantitie of .iiij. droppes Saue onelie these .iiij. drop­pes of blode / the face / lippes / chynne / doublet / collar & shurte of the saide Hune was cleane from any bloude Also we fynde that the skyn bothe of his necke / & throte by nethe the gyrdel of sylcke / was freat & fased [Page] awaye / with that thyng which the murtherars had broken his necke withall. Also the handes of ye saide Hune were wrong in the wrystes: werby we perceyued yt his handes hade bene bounde.

More ouer we fynde that with in the saide prisonne was no meane wherby any man myght hang hym sealfe but onelie a stole / wich stole stode a pon a bolster of a bed / so [...]yckel that any man or beest might not touche hit so litell but hit was readie to fall. Wherby we perceyued that hit was not possible that Hune myght hang hym sealfe the stole so standyng. Also all the gyrdell from the staple to his necke / as well as the part wich wēt aboute his necke was to lytel for his heed to cum oute there at. Also hit was not possible that yt soft silken gyrdel shuld breake his neck or skynne be­nethe ye gyrdel. Also we fynde in a corner / some what be younde the place where he did hang a greate percel of bloude. Also we fynde that apon the leafte syde of hunnes Iacket from the breaste dounwarde be greate streames of bloude. Also with in the flappe of the le­ [...]te syde of his Iacket / we fynde a greate clouster of bloude / and the Iacket foolden downe theruppon / wich thyng the saide Hun coude neuer foold nor doo after he was hanged. Wherbie hit aperitith playnlie to vs all that the neck of hune was broken / and the greate plentie of bloude was shede before he was hanged. Wherfore all we fynd by God & all oure consciences / that Richard hune was murthered / also we aquite the saide richard hune of his awne deeth

Also an ende of a wax candel wich as Iohn Bel­lynger saith he left in the presone burnyng with hune that same sondaie at night that Hune was murdered wich wax candel we founde stickyng apon the stock­kes faire put oute / aboute vij. or viij. fote from the place where hune was hangede / wich candel after oure [Page] opinion was neuer put oute by him / for many likeli­hoodes wich we haue perceyued. Also at ye goyng vp of master Chaūceler in to lolars tower we haue good profe that there laye on the stockkes a gowne ether of murrey or crymson in grayne furred wt shākes / who­se gowne hit was we coulde neuer proue / nether who bare hit waye. All we fynde yt M. William horsey chaūceler to my lorde of londō hath had at his cōmaū demēt bothe ye rule & gyding of the saide prisonner / by all the tyme of his impresonement. Moreouer all we fynde yt ye saide master Horsey Chaunceler hath put oute charles Ioseph of his office / as the saide charlis hath confessed by cause he wold not deale and vse the saide prisonner so cruelly / and do to hym as ye Chaun­celer wolde haue had him to do. Notwithstonding ye keyys deliueraunce to the Chaunceler by charlis on the satyrday at night before hunnes deeth / such cō uētion [...] make t [...] ey man to blynde ye sy [...] pel and charles ryding oute of the towne on the sondaye in the mor­nyng ensuyng was but a conuencion made be twyxt Charlis and the Chaunceler / for to coloure the mur­ther / for the same sondaye that Charles rode forthe he cam agayne to towne the same sondaye nyght and kylled richard hune / as in the deposicions of Iulian Lyttel / Thomas Chytcheley / Thomas Symondes / and Peter Torner dothe appere

After colouring of the murther be twyxt charles and the Chaunceler conspired / the Chaunceler called to him one Iohn spaldyng bellrynger of Paules / & deliuered to ye same bellrynger ye keyys of ye lowlars tower geuyng to the saide belrynger a greate charge / saing I charge ye to kepe Hun more straytelie than he hath bene kept / and let him haue but one meale a daye. Moreouer I charge ye leat no bodie come to him without my licence / nether bryng shurte / kappe / kercheffe / or any other thyng / but yt I see hit before hit come to him [Page] Also before Hune was caried to fulham the Chaunceler cōmaunded to be put apon hunnys necke a greate coller of Iron with a greate chayne wich is to heuy for any beest to were and long to endure.

More ouer hit is well proued yt before Hunnes deeth the saide Chaūceler cam vp in to ye saide lolars tower & knelyd downe before Hun / holdyng vp his handes to him / prayyng hym of forgyuenes of all that he hath done to hym and must do to hym. And on the sondaye folowing the Chaunceler commaunded the penetēsarie of Paules / to go vp to him and saye him a Gospel / & make for him holie bred and holie water / and geue hit to him which so did / and after the Chaunceler com­maunded that hune shuld haue his dynner / And the same dynner tyme Charlis boye was shut in presonne with Hun / wiche was neuer so before / and after dynner when the belrynger fet oute the boye / the belryn­ger saide to the same boye / come no moare hither with meate for him vntyll to morow at noone / for master Chaunceler hath commaunded that he shall haue but one meale daye and the same nyght folowing Richard hune was murthered / wich murther conde not ha­ve bene done with oute consent and licens of the Chaunceler / and also by the wyttyng and knowlege of Iohn spaldyng belrynger / for there conde no mā come in to the presone but by the keyys / beyng in Iohn bellryngers keapyng.No he [...]hought [...] he shu­ [...]d neu ea [...]e moare for he had prepa­red his dynner agaynst the mon [...]aye Also as by my Lorde of Londons booke dothe appere Iohn bellrynger is a poore innocent man / wherfore all we do perce­ue that this murther conde not be done but by the commaundemēt of the Chaunceler / and by the wyttyng and knowyng of Iohn belrynger

Charles Ioseph with in the tower of London / of his awne frewyl and vnconstreyned saide / ye ma­ster Chaunceler deuised / and wrote wi [...]h his awne [Page] hande / all suche herisies as were layde to hunnes charge Reacord / Iohn god / Iohn truye / Iohn pasmar / Richard Gybson with manie other

Also charles Ioseph saith that whan Richard hune was slayne / Iohn belrynger bare vp the stey­re in to the lolars tower awar candell / hauyng the keyys of the dores hāgyng on his arme / and I charles went next to him / and master Chaunceler cam vp last / and when all we cam vp / we founde hune lyeng on his bed / and then master Chaunceler saide laye handes on the theffe / and so al we iij. murthered hune / and then I charles put ye gyrdell aboute Hunnes neck / and then Iohn bellrynger and I Char­les did heue vp Hune and master Chaunceler pulled the gyrdel ouer the staple and so Hune was hanged

¶The deposicion of Iulian lyttel late seru­ant to Charles Ioseph / by hyr frewyl on con­strayned the xiiij. day of Februarie / in the vi. yere of oure soueraine lorde Kyng Henrie the viij within the chappel of oure ladie of Bedlem shewyd to thynquest

Fyrst Iulian saith yt the wennesdaye of night after the deeth of Richard hune that Charles Ioseph her master cam home in to his house at x. of the clocke in the nyght / and set hym downe to his supper / then Iulian saide to hym / master hit was tolde me that ye were in presone / Charles answered / hit is mearie to turne the penie / and after spuper / Charles trussed percell of his goodes / & with help of Iulian bare them in to mastres por­tars house to kepe / and that done Charles saide to Iulian. Iulian if thou wilt be sworne to kepe my councel / I will shew the my mynde Iuliā answered ye / yf hit be nether felonie nor treason / then Charles [Page] toke a boke oute of his pursse / and Iulian sware to hym theruppon / then saide Charles to Iulian. I haue distroyed Richard Hune. Alas master saide Iuliā how / he was called a honest man / Charles answered I put a wyre in hys nose / Alas saide Iulian now be yow cast awaye & vndone / than saide Charles / Iulian I trust in the that thou wilt keape my councell / & Iulian answered ye / but for gooddes sake master shyft for youre sealffe / & than Charles saide / I had leuer thā a C. lib. it were not doone / but that is doone can not be vndone / Moreouer Charles saide than to Iulian / vppon sondaye when I rode to my cosynne to baryngtons house / I taried there and made good chere all daye tyll hit was night / and yet before hit was mydnyght I was in London / and had kylled Hune / & apon the next daye I rode thither agayne and was there at dynner / and sent for neyghburs & made good chere / than Iulian axed Charles / where set yowe youre horsse that night ye cam to towne / & wherfore cam you not whome / Charles answered / I cam not whome for feare of bewrayyng / and than Iulian axed Charles / who was with youe at ye kyl­lyng of Hune / Charles answered I wil not tell the / & Iulian saith that vppon the thursdaye folowing Charles taryed all daye in his house with greate feare / and appon fridaye folowyng yerlie in ye mornyng before daye Charles went forth (as he saide) he went to paules and at his commyng in agayne he was in greate feare / saynge hastelie geat me my horsse / and with greate feare and hast made him redie to ryde / & bad mastres portars lad leade his horsse in to ye fyld by the back syde / and than charles put in to his sleue his mase or masor with other plate / and borowed of mastres portar bothe gold & syluer but howe much I am not sure / and Charles went in to the feld after [Page] his horsse & I brought his boget after hym. Also vp­pon fridaye in christēn as weke folowyng Charles cam whome late in the nyght / and brought with him iij. bakars and a smyth of streat ford / and the same [...]ight they caried oute of Charles house all his goo­ [...]es by the fylde syde to the bell at shordiche / and yer [...]y on the morowe conueyyd hit with cartes to streat forde

Moreouer Iulian saith that ye saturdaye at night before the death of Hune Charles cam whome / and brought with hym a Gurnard sayyng hit was for Hune and charles boye telled to Iulian that there was also ordened for Hune a pece of freassh salmone wich Iohn bellynger had

Also Charles saide to the saide Iulian / war not this an vngraciouse trouble / I conde bryng my lorde of London to the dores of heritiques in London booth of men and wemen that bene woorth M. lib. But I am ferd that ye vngraciouse mydwyfe shallbe wraye vs all

Also charles saide vnto mastres porter in like wise / and more larger sayyng of the best in London / wherto mastres porter answered / ye best in London is my lord maire / than Charles saide / I wyll not skyll hym quite / for he taketh this matter whotte

Where as Charles ioseph saith he laye at neck hyll wt a harlot a mannes wife in baryngtons house the same night / & there abode vntyll the morow at .xi. of ye clock that Richard hune was morthered / wher vpon he bro­ught before the kynges councell for his purgacion yt forsaide baude baringtonnes wyse / & also thafforsaide Harlot / wich purgation we haue proued all vntrew as right larglie maye appere as well by the deposicyon of Iuliā littell / as of thomas chitcheley taylor / & of Iohn̄ symons stacioner / with other / as of Robert iohnson & Peter torner

¶The deposiciō of Thomas chitcheley taylor

The saide Thomas saith / the same monday yt richard hune was founde deed wt in a quarter of an houre after vij a clocke in the morning / he met wt Charles ioseph cōmyng oute of Paules at the nether north dore / going toward pater nost. rew / saing good morow M. Charles / & the saide charles answered / good morowe / & turned backe whan he was with oute the church doore / & loked a pon the saide Chitcheley.

The deposicion of thomas symondes stacioner.

He saith the same morning that Hune was foun­de deed / that within a quarter of an houre after vij. a clocke in the mornyng Charles Ioseph cam before hym at his stalle / and saide good morowe gossep Simons / and the same Symons saide good morowe to hym agayne / and ye wiffe of the same Simons was by hym / and be cause of the deedly countenaunce & hastie goyng of Charles the saide Thomas bad his wiffe looke whither Charles gooyth / and as she conde perceyue Charles went in to an ale house stan­dyng in Pater noster rewe by the aley leydyng in to the roode of northdorne / or in to the aley / whither she conde not well tell

¶The deposicion of Robert iohnson & his wiffe dwellyng at the bell in shordiche / where Charles ioseph set his horsse that night yt he cam to towne to murther Richard Hune.

The saide Robert saith that Charles ioseph sent his horsse to his house a pon a holiedaye at night aboute .iij wekes before christēmas by a boye / which horsse was albe sweet / & albe myred: & the saide boy saide / laet my fathers horsse stond sadelled / for I cannot tell whether my father wyll ryde agayne to nyght or not / & the sayde horsse stode saddelled all night / & in the morning folowing Charles came booted & sporred aboute .viij. of the [Page] clocke / and axed if his horsse was sadelled / & the ser­uant answered yee / and the saide Charles leapt vp­pon his horsse / & prayed the hoste to let hym oute at his backe gate / that he might ryde oute by the fyld syde / wich hoste so did / and by cause he was vncertaine of the daye / we asked him if he had herd speake of ye death of Hune at & tyme or not / & he answered nay: but shortlye after he did. Neuertheles Peter torner Charles sonne in lawe wich brought the horsse by nyght in to the bell Robert iohnsons house / confes­sed hit was ye same night before that Hune was founde deed in the mornyng

Moreouer the frydaie before Hunes death Peter torner saide to an honest woomā a waxchaundelers wife dwellyng before saint Maries spittel gate / that before this daye seuē nyght Hune shuld haue a mis­cheuouse deeth. And the same day at after none that Hune was founde deede the saide Peter cam to the same wife and tolde hir that Hune was hanged / sayng what tolde I youe

Also Iames the Chauncelers koke the friday be­fore Hunes death saide to v. honest men that Hune shuld die or christmas / or elles he wolde die for hym and on the monday that Hune was founde deede the saide Iames came to the same wemen / & saide / what toolde I you / is he not now hanged.

And we of thynquest axed both of Peter torner and of Iames kooke where they had knowlege that Hune shuld so shortlie die / and they saide in master Chauncelers place by euerie man

¶The deposicion of Iohn spaldyng belrynger

Fyrst the saide deponent saith that on saturdaye ye second daye of December. Anno. 1514. he toke the charge of the presone at .iiij. of the clocke at after noone / by the commaundement of M. Chaunceler / & so [Page] toke the keyys / wher vppon he gaue commaunde­ment to the saide deponent that he shuld let no man­ner of persone speake with the presoner / except he had knowlege of them / & so at v. of the clocke the same daye / the saide deponent went to the presonner him sealff a loone / & se him and cherisht him / where he gaue the saide deponent a pece of freashe salmone for his wiffe. And after that the saide deponēt saith that he wēt to master Cōmensaries to supper with his felowe / where he remēbred that he had lefte his knyfe with the saide presonner / where vppon by the councel of master Commensarie he went to the presonner / and featched his kniffe / where he founde the presonner / sayng of his beades / & so ye saide deponēt required his kniffe of the saide presonner / & the sai­de presonner deliuered the kniffe to the saide depo­nent gladlie / & so departed for that night.

And after that on the sondaye next folowyng the saide deponēt cam to the presonner at ix. of the clocke / & axed him what meate he wold haue to his dyn­ner / & he answered but a morsell / & so the saide depo­nent departed & weent to the Chaunceler in to the quere / and he cōmaunded that he shuld take the penetensarie vp to the presonner with him to make him holie water & holie bredde / and made the saide depo­nent to departe the presonne house for a while / & af­ter that he brought him his dynner & locked Charles boye with him all dynner while / vnto the houre of i. of the clocke / & so let the lad oute againe / & axed him what he wolde haue to his soupper / & he answered yt he had meate ynowghe & so departed vntill vi. of the clock / & then the saide deponent brought with him a quarte of Ale / & at that time one William sampton went with the saide deponent to se the presonner / where he was and sawe him and spake to geather / & [Page] so from the houre of vi. aforsaide vnto xij.there h [...] lyed b [...] he wa [...] instructed wha [...] he shuld saye / b [...] a good scolemaster I warraū youe / & conning in such busines a clocke on the morowe the saide deponent came not there / & whē he cā there he met ye Chaunceler with other doctours going to see the presonner / where he hanged

¶The deposicion of Peter torner sone in la­we of Charles Ioseph

First he saithe that his father in lawe rode out of ye towne on sondaie the iij. day of December Anno xv C. and xiiij. at vi. of ye clocke in ye morning / weering a coote of oreng tawncy / on a horsse coloure grisol / trottyng

He saith that on saturdaye next before that / one Buttons wyte gaue knowlege to the saide deponent that his father shuld be arested by dyuers seargeantes as sone as he coude be taken / & ther vppon the saide de­ponent gaue knowlege to his saide father in lawe / at the blacke friars at the water side / wher vppon he a­uoyded / & the same night master Chaunceler gaue the keyys to Iohn belrynger / and gaue him charge of the presonner / & on the saide sondaye the saide deponent with Iohn belrynger sarued the saide presōner of his dynner at xij. of the clocke / & then Iohn bellrynger saide to the deponēt that he wold not cum to him vnto the morowe / for my lorde had commaunded hym that the presōner shuld haue but one meales meate of the daye. Not withstādyng that / ye saide Iohn belrynger after yt he had shutte Paules church dores weent to the forsaide presonner with another with him / at vij. of the clocke at night the saide sondaye

And the saide deponent saith that he cam on the mō daie at the houre of viij. of the clocke in the mornyng to seeke Iohn bellrynger and conde not fynde him / he was thē besie otherwise wt his other cō [...]inons [...]. chan [...]er & ch [...]les io­ [...]ph & taried vntill ye hie masse of Paules was done / and yet he conde not fynd Iohn bellrynger / & than Iohn bellryngers felowe / one Wylliam / deliuered the keyys to the saide [Page] deponent / & so the saide deponent with ij. officers of my lordes being somners weent to serue the saide presonner / and whē they cam they presoner (they saide) was hanged his face to the wall warde / & apon that the saide deponent Immediatelie gaue knowlege to the Chaunceler / wheruppon ye Chaunceler went vp with the master of the rolles / & master subdeane / wt other doctours vnknowē / to the nowmber of a dosē and theyre seruauntes

¶The deposicion of Iohn enderbie barber

The saide Iohn enderbie saith the fridaye before ye deeth of Richard Hune betwyxt viij. & ix. of the clocke in the mornyng he met with Iohn bellrynger in estcheape / & axed of him how master Hune farede / the saide bellrynger answered sayyng / there is ordened for him so greuouse penawnce that whan men heare of hit / they shal haue greate meruayle ther of / witnesses that herde Iohn bellrynger saye these woordes Iohn rutterskriuenner and William segar armourer

yet ye saie iohn̄ ellr saie to the aq̄st yt he [...]am not here tyl [...]ij of the clock of ye same [...]ayeAlso the saide Iohn enderbie saith / the same mon­daye that Richard Hune was founde deede / he met wt the saide Iohn bellrynger at the coundythe in graci­ouse streate / aboute ix. of the clocke in the mornyng axeng the saide bellrynger howe master Hune fared / ye saide bellrynger answered saing / he fared well this daye in the mornyng betwixt v. and vi. of the klocke howbeit I am sorie for him / for ther can no bodie come to him vntill I come / for I haue the keyys of the dores heare by my gyrdell / and shewed keyys to the saide Enderbie

¶The deposicion of Alen cresswel wax chaūdeler

The saide Alen saith that Iohn grandger seruaunt with my lord of London / in my lorde of Londons kechin / at suche time as the saide Alen was seryng of Hunes coffē / that grandger tolde to him that he was present [Page] with Iohn bellrynger the same sondaye at night that Richard Hune was found deed of the morowe whē his keper set him in the stockes / in so mich the saide Hune desired to borowe the kepers kniffe / & the ke­per axed him what he wolde doo with his kniffe / and Hune answered. I had leauer kyll my sealffe than to be thus intreated / this deposicion the saide Alen wil proue as farforth as any christen man maye / saing ye grandger shewyd to him thise woordes of his awne frewyll and mynde / with oute any question or enquery to him made by the saide Alen / moreouer the saide Alen saith / that all that euenyng grandger was in greate feare

¶The deposicion of Richard horsenaille baliue of the sentuarie towne called good estur in essex

The saide Richard saith the fridaye before Chri­stenmas daye last past that one Charles Ioseph somner to my lorde of London be came a sentuarie man / & thaffore saide fridaye he regestred his name / the saide Charles sayyng hit was fore ye saue garde of his bo­die / for there bene sertayne men in London so extreme against him for ye deeth of Richard hune that he dar not abide in Londone / how be it the saide Charles saith he knowlegeth him sealf gyltles of Hunes deeth for he deliuered the keyys to the Chaunceler by Hu­nes life / also the saide baliue saith / that Charles paide the dewtie of the saide regestring / bothe to him and to sir Iohn studeley vicar

¶The Copie of my lorde of Londons letter sent to my lord Cardenall

I Beseche youre good lordship to stande so good lorde vnto my poore Chaunceler / now in warde / and endited by an vntrewe queste for ye deeth of Richard hune / vppon ye onelie accusaciō of Charles Ioseph made by paine & duraunce that by youre intercessiō [Page] it may please the kynges grace to haue ye matter dew­lie & sufficiētlie examined by indifferēt personnes of his discrete coūcell / in ye p̄sence of ye parties or there be any more done in the cause / & that a pon the innocē cie of my saide chaūceler declared / it may further please the kinges grace / to award a plackard vnto his at­tourney to confesse the saide endite ment to be vntrewe / when the tyme shall requere hit / for assured am I if my Chaunceler be tryed by any xij. men in Lon­dō they be so maliciouslie set in fauorē hereticae prauitatis / that is ar so set apon the fauoure of heresie / yt they will cast and condemne my clarcke / thowght he war as innocent as Abel. [...] yt fore [...]keth ye [...]gment [...] al the [...]en in [...] grea­ [...] a citie [...] with [...] sealffe [...]utie Quare si potes beate pater adiuua infirmitates nostras et tibi in perpetuum de­uincti erimus / that is. Wherfore if you can / blessed father healp one infirmities and weaknes / & we shalbe bounde to you for euer / Ouer this in moste humble wife I beseche youe that I may haue ye kynges gra­ciouse fauoure / whome I neuer offended wyllinglie and that by youre good meanes I mought speke wt his grace / & be fauorablie heerde / at any tyme it may so please his grace & youe / and I with all myne shall praye for youre ꝓsperouse estate lōg to cōtinewe.

your moost humble oratour R. L.

¶The woordes yt my lorde of London spake before the lordes in the parlement chaumber.

Memorandū yt the busshop of Londō saide in the parlamēt chaumber yt there was a byll brought to ye parlamēt to make ye iurie that was charged vppō ye deeth of Hune trewmen / & saide & toke a pon his cōscience yt they were falsse periured caytiffes / & saide furthermore to all ye lordes there then beyng. For ye loue of god loke apon this matter / for if ye do not I dare not kepe myne awne house for heretiques / & saide that the [Page] saide Richard Hune hanged him sealffe / & ye hit was his awne dede / & no mānes elles.Hit [...] woon [...] yt he toke ther not bo [...] th mā [...] wiffe [...] is not [...] manne [...] of bus­shoppes to leat such es [...] kaepe [...] it ys to be thought tha [...] he said not trueth in a moche as he p̄ [...] soned [...] em no And furthermore saide that there came a mā to his house (whose wiffe was apeched of heresie) to speke wt hym / & he saide yt he had no mynde to speake wt the same mā / which mā spake & reported to ye seruātes of ye same busshoppe that if his wife woold not holde styll her opinion / he woold cutte her throte with his awne handes / with other woordes moare.

¶The sentence of the quest subscribed by the Crowner.

The inquisiciō intendend takē at the citie of Londō in the parishe of sainte Gregorie in the warde of bay­nerd castell in London the vi. daye of Decēber in the yere and raigne of Kyng Henry the viij. the vi. yere / afore Thomas Barnwell crowner of oure sofferaine lord the Kyng wt in the citie of London aforsaide. Also afore Iames yarforde and Iohn mundie shriues of the saide citie / apon the sight of the bodie of Richard hune late of London tayliour wich was founde hanged in lolars tower / and by the othe and prose of lawfull men of the same warde / and of other iij. war­des next adioyning as hit ought to be after the custome in the citie aforsaide to enquere how and in what manner wise the saide Richard hune came vnto his deeth / & apon the othe of Iohn barnarde / Thomas sterre / William warren / Henry Abraham / Iohn aborowe / Iohn turner / Robert alen / William marler / Iohn button / Iames page / Thomas pickhill / William burton / Robart brigewater / Thomas busted / Gilbart howel / Richard Gybson / Christopher crof­ton / Iohn god / Richard holt / Iohn pasmere / Ed­mond hudsō / Iohn awncell / Richard couper / Iohn tynie / the wich saye vpon there othe that where the saide Richard hune by the commaundemēt of Rich­ard [Page] and Busshop of Lōdon was enprisoned and brought to holde in a prisone of the saide Busshoppes called lolars tower lyyng in the cathedral church of S. Paule in London / in the parisshe of S. Gregorie in the warde of baynerd castell affore saide William horsey of London clarcke / otherwise called William hersie Chaūceler to Richard busshop of Lōdō / & one Charles ioseph late of London̄ somner & Iohn spalding of Lōdō otherwise called Iohn belringer felonouslie as felones to oure lord the Kyng with force and armes against the peace of oure sofferaine Lord the Kyng / & dignitie of his crowne / the .iiij. of daye December the yere of the raigne of oure sofferaine Lord the .vi. afforsaide / of theire greate malice at ye parishe of sainte Gregorie afforsaide apon the saide Richard Hune made a fraye / & the same Richard Hune felonouslie strāgelde & smorderde / & also the neck they did breake of the sai­de Richarde Hune & there felonouslie slewe hym and morthered hym / & also the bodie of the saide Richard Hune afterward the same .iiij. daye / yere / place / parish & warde afforsaide wt the proper gyrdell of the same Richard Hune of sylcke / blacke of coloure / of the value of .xij pēce after his deeth apon a hoke dryuē in to apece of tymber in the wal of the presonne afforsaide made fast / & so hāged hym againste the peace of oure sofferaine Lorde the Kyng / & the dignitie of his crowne / and so the saide iurie hathe sworne apon the holie Euangeliste that they saide Wylliam Horsey clerck / Charles Ioseph / & Iohn Spaldyng of theyre set malice / then & there felonouslie kylled & murthered the saide Richard Hune in Maner & forme aboue saide against the peace of oure sofferaine Lord the Kyng / his crowne & dignitie. Subscribed in this maner

Thomas Barnewell Crowner of the Citie of London.

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